Today’s Labour MP avoided jail after she was found guilty for harassing a lover rival.
Claudia Webbe, 56, was handed a suspended 10-week jail sentence and 200 hours’ community service at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. She made a string of threatening calls to 59-year-old Michelle Merritt between September 1, 2018 and April 26 last year after becoming suspicious of Ms Merritt’s relationship with her partner Lester Thomas, a Chelsea FC scout.
In a message apparently sent to her supporters before the verdict, Webbe described herself as a ‘black woman in a white court’, adding: ‘I am facing a white system and white prosecutors. Because I am vulnerable, I was deliberately targeted. I am familiar with the sexism, racism, and media that are used to denigrate black women.
And in court today, Webbe’s defence counsel Paul Hynes QC said she had been subjected to ‘extraordinary vilification’, including racist social media abuse.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring lambasted Webbe for her ‘callous, intimidating’ behavior. He called the online comments ‘disgusting’ but said he found it ‘odd and concerning’ that a probation service report said Webbe felt like a victim herself.
The district judge stated that he had noted the four instances when she called herself ‘the victim’ during her testimony in the witness box.
Today, Mr Hynes said the defence team were ‘taken aback’ by an application for costs totalling £17,620.82. He said his client, who told the court she had a salary of £81,000, ‘does not have that sort of money available’.
After her Labour whip was removed, Webbe is now an independent MP for Leicester East. Labour demanded Webbe resign as an MEP and a process is underway to remove him as a party member.
Any custodial sentence not overturned under parliamentary rules will result in a recall petition. A by-election will take place if 10% of the electorate vote for her recall. This process cannot begin until appeals have been exhausted. Webbe indicated that she will appeal and could stay in the Commons for many months.
After Keith Vaz’s previous MP, Webbe won the Leicester East Constituency in 2019. After offering to buy cocaine for male prostitutes, she resigned in 2019. As the Tories gained ground, she won with a smaller majority of 6,000 as opposed to Mr Vaz’s 22,000.
Local Labour figures fear that Mr Vaz could try to influence the by-election. He could even run for the office himself in what would be an extraordinary political comeback. However, a source close to Mr Vaz described the speculation as ‘tittle tattle’, according to the Huff Post.
Webbe’s victim Ms Merritt sobbed today as she recounted Webbe’s harassment campaign.
She spoke from behind a screen and said that Webbe had made me feel very vulnerable in public, even in my own home. I was afraid to enter my house. Many nights of sleeplessness followed. I would like to feel safer again. Ms Webbe’s government position (sic), makes it difficult to know what she’s capable of.
Ms. Merritt broke down in emotion when she said that she was worried Webbe would seriously harm’ herself.
She continued, “My self confidence has plummeted. I have anxiety attacks. It is almost like I am a hermit.” I have fallen into enormous debt and desperately wanted to leave the region Ms Webbe said she knew I was from.
She continued, “I am so proud I have been able to continue because no women should be threatened or harassed in the same way she has to us over the years. Not even a politician.”
Claudia Webbe (56), made a series threatening calls to Michelle Merritt (59). Today, she is seen outside court hand in hand with Lester Thomas, her partner.
Webbe was described by the judge at her conviction as “vague, incoherent and illogical” and she said that she had’made up evidence’.
Yet former leader Jeremy Corbyn came to her defense and described her as a warm-hearted person who is particularly devoted to social justice issues.
He wrote, “Claudia is a person committed to ensuring justice and is willing to tell uncomfortable truths when it is important.
“I have great respect for her and have confidence in her. As someone who has known her for many years, I can recommend her as a person with good character and a valuable contribution to the world.
John McDonnell, a former shadow chancellor, wrote that he knew her to be honest, responsible, and extremely caring.
Claudia demonstrates empathy and emotional understanding in all she does. Claudia will always go the extra mile for someone in need.
“She has shown, both as a trade unionist representing her member’s and as a member representing her constituents, that she has that human quality that allows her to relate to others, understand their concerns, and gain their trust.
“She is meticulous in her behavior, always polite and respectful, and mature in her judgment.” I have seen her respond calmly and sincerity in the most difficult situations.
Ms. Merritt stated that last month she felt ‘worried, unnerved’ by the MP calling her.
She said that ‘When you are called and there is no one answering, it unnerves’ you, especially if you are a single woman.
“We’ve all seen the movies.” You don’t know who is calling or who is watching you.
Ms. Merritt was contacted by Ms. Webbe on Mother’s Day 2019. She identified herself and she decided to call the police.
Ms. Merritt stated to the call handler that she was there with her daughter, celebrating Mother’s Day, but now that’s over, the reality has hit me.
“She works for Labour Party. She is in the public eye and she accuses me of, in my words,’slagging around her boyfriend’. I am not.
“She’s threatened acid over me, she knows my address, she’s going send photos of me and him, to my daughters.”
The court heard that Webbe was contacted by officers from police who hoped that it would be over.
Ms. Merritt received calls on April 25th, last year, each lasting eight seconds and both from the exact same number.
Ms. Merritt said to the court, “I just hung-up very quickly.” I didn’t want her to speak to me.
“[Having received those two calls]I needed to prove that she called me, as there was no caller ID at that time and the first threat call was not recorded. So I called back the number that was on the phone.
The recording was played to the court. Webbe answers the telephone and immediately starts shouting at Ms Merritt.
Webbe: “Why are you still getting in and getting with Lester?” Why, why?
“He’s not your friend. He’s with me. I don’t want you to be in contact with me, and I don’t want you to touch him.
Webbe’s partner Mr Thomas can be heard shouting in the background: “Don’t listen, send me a note whenever you like.
“Michelle, please hang up the phone and call police.
Webbe shouts: “Lester, why don’t we go and live together?” Take everything you have and go and live together!
Webbe (seen today by a judge) was described as ‘vaguely incoherent and illogical’ by the judge. She also claimed that she had’made up evidence on-the-spot’
Ms Merritt wants to know why Webbe keeps calling her, but Webbe screams at her: ‘Can we stop. Can you please get out of this relationship? Get out of this relationship!
“I’ve seen all the posts, I have seen all your naked pictures, and I’ve seen your entire relationship with Lester. Get out of my relationship!
“Otherwise, I will tell your family and I’ll show them all your pictures.”
Webbe, who testified last month, said she called Ms Merritt April 25 to report that Mr Thomas and her had’repeatedly violated lockdown’ rules during a meeting.
She claimed she was arguing to Mr Lester when Ms Merritt called.
Webbe answered the court when asked if she had ever made withheld phone calls to Ms Merritt. She threatened to throw acid on her and call her a slag, and threatened to send her naked photos to her family.
“This is not something I would do and it’s not in my character. Those terms, these words, are not my words.
“I would never use such expletives, so derogatory terms about someone else let alone a woman.”
She said that “Lester” had told Michelle he had met up with her, and she had replied “you can’t really do this, we are in a national locking down.”
‘Lester doesn’t believe that cover is real, so I felt I had a responsibility to tell Michelle she shouldn’t be breaking the law.
“He believes it’s a hoax. He doesn’t want vaccinated. He doesn’t believe it.
“I couldn’t understand how she would break lockdown with Lester, and I couldn’t comprehend why Lester would.”
He felt that he was an important worker and that he could continue living his everyday life.
“He saw nothing wrong in it and so meeting up with Michele was something he did.
“I said, “Well, you really can’t do it,” but he didn’t want to listen so I asked Michelle if she could not break lockdown with Lester.
Webbe stated: “On April 25, 2020, I confronted [Lester]Why he went out.
“He told me Michelle needed him, so he couldn’t choose.
‘The conversation between Lester & I became hateful.
“I tried to call Michelle twice that day to understand why she had repeatedly broken lockdown with Lester. Michelle called me back during this.
‘During the call, Michelle was having two conversations at one time and I repeatedly told her to get out. By this, I meant that she shouldn’t be relying upon Lester as support because they were not in a romantic relationship.
‘I didn’t threaten her with photos of her – this comment was directed at Lester because Lester had been physically violent, and I was trying my best to get him off of me.
“Eventually he smashed me phone… I was so mad at Lester that he wouldn’t listen to me. He didn’t want to respect my role of MP and he didn’t want to understand the severity of Covid.
‘People were dying within my constituency. I lost constituents and a friend to Covid. It was so hard to understand why Lester couldn’t grasp the severity of this pandemic, and how important it is to follow the rules.
Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described Webbe, both pictured above, as a warm-hearted person’ who is especially ‘dedicated to’ social justice issues.
Webbe said, breaking her voice, “He was constantly reproaching me, ridiculing my, goingading [me], as though this isn’t as serious as people make it out to be and that he can do whatever he wants.”
Michelle said, “It was a terrible situation. I just wanted Michelle to understand it and try to help me.” I wanted her to stop engaging in conversation with him for the sake the pandemic… I was so mad with Lester.
Webbe claimed that the ‘naked photos’ were a reference over an argument about her partner Mr Thomas’s trip to St Lucia, which would have included their engagement.
She said to the court, “When I ran to be an MP in Leicester East, we were to go to St Lucia.”
Lester continued, “I couldn’t go”, and he went ahead to St Lucia. He had taken a picture of himself. I would guess he was naked from waist up. He or his family had taken the picture, and I wanted to find out who took it.
“He was not forthcoming with the identity of the photographer. He was naked from his waist up.
She continued, “My partner was goading me and gaslighting.” He knew that we were living in a domestic. He knew exactly what he was doing. He knew he was reaching for my arm. He knew I was telling to stop.
“This is about denial and goading, gaslighting and coercive controlling.
Webbe (pictured with Thomas) is currently sitting in Leicester East as an independent MP after being suspended from the Labour Party
Webbe continued, “I was angry at Lester. My anger was directed towards Lester. She [Ms Merritt]I was in the middle a heated argument with Lester.
“She called me and asked me to end my relationship with her. She was continuing an argument that I had with Lester. It was probably the worst argument that I’ve ever had.
“I have never had a neighbor call me about domestic abuse, where I am left screaming and my phone is damaged at the end.”
She said, “I felt no anger towards Michelle and I’m sorry that that tape portrays because it isn’t my finest moment but it wasn’t meant to cause Michelle any harm. It just is to me very embarrassing.
“It’s not something that I want to repeat…I just wish that we would never go there again.”
Webbe won the seat previously held by Keith Vaz (Labour veteran who retired in the wake of a scandal) when he entered the House of Commons.
Between 2010 and 2018, she was a councillor in Islington and a member the ruling Labour National Executive Committee.
In her earlier years of her career, she was a political advisor to Ken Livingstone (then-London mayor).